The reading life doesn’t wait for perfect conditions, so I hit record from bed and opened the door to a TBR that just did a plot twist. I used to swear I wasn’t a fantasy person. Now I’m racing through A Court of Thorns and Roses, loving the romance inside the magic, and comparing notes with my work book club on a modern witch story that feels like found family. That pivot didn’t erase my old favorites—memoir, self-help, and historical fiction—it gave me new ways to find the same heart: complicated love, moral choices, and characters who want to be better.

I break down how I keep reading alive with kids, work, and a calendar that never sits still. Libby fuels my audiobook habit with library holds; Spotify lets me jump straight into new titles, even if I have to watch the monthly hour cap. Paperbacks anchor bedtime, ebooks live on my phone for surprise five-minute windows, and audio powers errands. That format mix stops momentum from dying when a hold expires, a nap ends early, or a book light goes missing again. Along the way I add heritage reads—Things Fall Apart and The Shadow King—to deepen my connection to African and African American history, and I shout out Awfully Hilarious, a collection of period and menopause stories that lands with humor and truth.

If you’re juggling multiple books, you’ll hear how I keep the worlds separate and why I think bookstores are still the quietest rooms on earth. I also preview our November mystery pick, talk about nine-week library waits, and share where to find more recs, including Sheree's Bookstagram, BookishAndBusy_. Come for the fantasy conversion, stay for the practical reading hacks and the community energy that makes stories stick.

Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a reading spark, and leave a quick review. Then tell me: what’s the one book I should add to my nightstand this week?

Join our FREE book club!

https://fable.co/club/turn-the-paige-book-club-with-sheree-paige-barber-570725372650

Turn the Paige Newsletter: https://turnthepaige.myflodesk.com/

Turn the Paige Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/turnthepaigepod?igsh=cWt2djFtcWU5ZzV3&utm_source=qr

Turn the Paige Pinterest:
https://pin.it/37lrgPjKc

Ever feel like the only adult voice in a room that’s become a stadium? Tajuana pulls back the curtain on life as the only woman in a house of boys and explains how she navigates nonstop motion, surprise sass, and the tender moments that make it all worth it. This candid solo story blends humor and hard-won tactics, showing how overstimulation, mood swings, and the three-versus-one energy shape daily life—and how small, steady habits can calm the storm.

We talk about the reality of boy energy colliding with a mom’s nervous system, the way premenstrual lows can tilt the day, and the relief and reset that follow. Tajuana gets practical about tracking cycles, naming feelings out loud, and using simple tools—quiet corners, short breaks, and predictable routines—to keep patience intact. She also dives into those unexpected lessons: boys can be wildly affectionate and wildly sassy; boundaries around privacy and bodies shift fast; and honest answers build trust when curiosity kicks in. From library parking lot reflections to post-school chaos, this is parenting up close and unfiltered.

You’ll hear about sports days, swim sessions, piano practice, and the logistics of being the only girl who still needs her own space. Family threads run through the story—big babies, tall genes, and the warmth of boys who adore their mom even on the loud days.

If you’re juggling big feelings, bigger volumes, and the pressure to keep it together, you’ll find comfort and strategies here: structure over shouting, repair over perfection, and identity that grows with your kids. If this resonated, tap follow, share it with a friend who’s outnumbered at home, and leave a review to help more parents find us.

Turn the Paige Newsletter: https://turnthepaige.myflodesk.com/

Turn the Paige Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/turnthepaigepod?igsh=cWt2djFtcWU5ZzV3&utm_source=qr

Turn the Paige Pinterest:
https://pin.it/37lrgPjKc

What if the birthday you plan is really a love letter to yourself? We dive into the messy, funny, and honest side of celebrating as adults—especially after motherhood—where a perfect day might look like a winery flight, three excellent pizzas, and the relief of not hosting. With our cousin Blair in the mix, we trace how birthdays evolve from glow‑stick college parties and $5 covers to intentional, low‑key gatherings that honor who we are now.

We unpack the tension between planning and surprises—why control can feel like protection against being forgotten, and how a good surprise should add to, not replace, a day that’s already yours. Motherhood reshapes the calendar, too: kids’ birthdays feel like your milestone, sleep is gold, and “doing nothing” becomes a worthy plan. From setting boundaries around hosting to embracing found family when you live across the country, we share practical strategies for making your day meaningful without making it a production.

Along the way, we swap stories: the Temecula party bus and the Uber that bailed mid‑ride, a teary 21st at midnight because a cousin wasn’t there, and the food memories that hold our grandparents close—Pop‑Pop’s spaghetti night, Nanny’s gift‑bag magic, and the pasta salad that gets requested all summer. If you’ve ever wanted to be celebrated but struggled to ask, this conversation is your permission slip.

Hit play for real talk on boundaries, joy, and the rituals that make another year feel like a win. If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs birthday courage, and leave a review so more listeners can find us.

Turn the Paige Newsletter: https://turnthepaige.myflodesk.com/

Turn the Paige Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/turnthepaigepod?igsh=cWt2djFtcWU5ZzV3&utm_source=qr

Turn the Paige Pinterest:
https://pin.it/37lrgPjKc